Backroad cycling France

A superb cycling tour that takes you from chateau to chateau along the Loire River from Tours to AngersRef CN51

A charming circuit in the heart of the Loire, this tour follows the wonderful Loire River, as well as the Indre, the Cher and the Vienne, taking in numerous Unesco World Heritage classified châteaux along the way: Amboise, Chenonceau, Villandry, Langeais, Ussé, Chinon, Saumur, Angers... An enchanting cycle tour that makes the most of a superb cycle network along tranquil waterways, all the while discovering the immense cultural and architectural heritage of the region. An opportunity to visit the area’s many wine cellars and vineyards, as well as the troglodyte caves of Turquant and Souzay-Champigny. To top it all off, the majority of the itinerary is on green lanes and dedicated bike routes.

Self-guided tour: from 945€ - Details Duration : 7 days | Level : Customer satisfaction :
- 4 reviews
+33 458 140 435 A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.
Book this tour
Physical level :  
This tour is E-bike compatible

Highlights

  • The famous châteaux of Chenonceau, Amboise, Langeais and Villandry.
  • An exceptional cultural and architectural heritage.
  • A circuit that takes us off the beaten track, into the heart of a well-preserved rich natural environment.
  • The Loire, the last major wild river in France…

Description

Comments

  • This trip exists in 2 versions : V1=1 wheel / V2=2 wheels
  • E-bike rental on this tour available.
  • Special offer for private groups. Please ask us for a quotation.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Tours - Amboise

Itinerary start: France Bike Trips services begin on day 1 at 9am in Tours with the baggage drop off (rendez-vous close to the railway station). On request we can book the previous night's accommodation for you in Tours.

A secure car park is available next to the train station. The "sud" section offers the cheapest tarifs. For more infos:  www.resaplace.com. If you arrive by car, a train service is avalable in order to return to Tours from Angers at the end of your trip.

Beginning in the city of Tours, we follow the magnificent Loire River, taking the time to appreciate the many châteaux and charming country manor houses along the way. The tranquillity of this great river, the longest in France, quickly works its charm with its thickets and leafy hedgerows, its fields and pastures, its isolated hamlets and farms. The river is also an oasis for a large variety of maritime and continental birds. As we reach Montlouis, the small amount of elevation gained so far is enough to offer beautiful panoramic views of the Loire. We then arrive in Amboise, the first notable historical site of our tour. The town has a rich and colourful past with its Royal château and the Clos Lucé, former residence of Leonardo de Vinci. The charming cobblestoned streets and street side cafés offer plenty of opportunities to explore and relax. Night in Amboise.

Distance covered: approx. 25 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m

Day 2: Amboise - Azay-sur-Cher

We gain a little altitude this morning in order to reach the forest of Amboise which we cross before taking the time to visit the fabulous Château de Chenonceau, built in 1513. After our visit we continue our journey by means of a little known route that offers an unforgettable view of the château from the banks of the Cher. We follow the river along its quiet banks bordered with weeping willows, vegetable gardens, charming country houses and "chalands" (small flat-bottomed barges) on riverside moorings. We reach our overnight stop, Azay-sur-Cher, nestled on the banks of the Cher River.

Distance covered: approx. 35 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m

Day 3: Azay-sur-Cher - Villandry

The tranquil waters of the Cher lead us gently on to the city of Tours. We skirt round the south side of the city, following the banks of the river, before winding our way through fields and pastures to reach Villandry and its 16th century château, famous for its splendid geometrical gardens. We make the most of the beautiful late afternoon light which sets the château, gardens and water garden ablaze. Overnight stay near Villandry.

Distance covered: approx. 30 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m

Day 4: Villandry - Chinon

We join the “Bec du Cher” this morning, meeting point of the Cher and Loire rivers. We find ourselves once again on the banks of the Loire, which seems surprisingly large after the previous day’s riding along the comparatively narrow Cher... The "chalands" drift peacefully on the slow current of the river, accompanied by a wealth of birdsong from the abundant variety of birds to be found along the river's banks. A short detour takes us to a small suspension bridge, enabling us to cross the Loire and join the village and château of Langeais. An optional visit of the Château de Langeais and a stroll through the narrow lanes of the village, dominated by the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church, before we continue our journey along the banks of the Loire. A welcome break in the small port of Bréhémont, with panoramic views from the terrace of its café, before we leave the Loire behind us and head to the Château d'Ussé, known as the "Sleeping Beauty". Charles Perrault was supposedly inspired by the image of the château when he wrote the fairy tale of the same name. An optional visit of the château for those who aren't frightened by fairy tales and legends :-). We head back to the Loire shortly before leaving it once again in order to reach our overnight lodgings in Chinon.

Distance covered: approx. 45 km / Altitude gain: approx. 200 m

Day 5: Chinon - Saumur

This morning's itinerary sees us join the banks of the Vienne. We ride through the forests, vineyards and farmland of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine regional natural park. After a dozen or so kilometres, we join the Loire once again and follow it all the way to Turquant, famous for its troglodyte caves dug in to the chalk cliffs. Many of the former mines and cave dwellings have been transformed into craftsman’s workshops, while others serve as wine cellars. Turquant is at the heart of the largest troglodyte cave network in the world, and we take ample time to discover the site before continuing on our route! A few kilometres further on we reach the tuffeau chalk galleries of Souzay-Champigny, which we can even ride through on our bikes! A unique experience… A few more pedal strokes and we arrive in Saumur, “town of art and history”. The Château de Saumur is an impressive sight, built at the top of a hillside dominating the Loire, and visible from miles around… The town's narrow lanes and small squares are also full of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. We settle into our overnight lodgings in Saumur.

Distance covered: approx. 50 km / Altitude gain: approx. 300 m

Day 6: Saumur - Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire

Today's ride starts with an optional loop of around fifteen kilometres which leads us to the Cadre Noir national equestrian school. An opportunity to discover this prestigious training school and spend some time with the centre's horses. We then return to Saumur where we join the Loire once again, riding through the Loire-Anjou-Touraine regional natural park. The entire day's stage is spent on the banks of the wild and fast-flowing Loire, which grows larger and larger with each passing kilometre. Our route takes us past a succession of antique machinery and abandoned hamlets of the once prosperous, but recently closed Trélazé slate quarries. Night in a gite in Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire.

Distance covered: approx. 30 km / Altitude gain: approx. 150 m (or 45 km / 300 m with the optional loop)

Day 7: Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire - Angers

We ride along the banks of the Loire once again, before bidding it farewell at its junction with the Maine, the confluence of the two rivers offering us a picture postcard image. We follow the Maine upstream and into the heart of Angers where we discover the old town and its château, the "Maison d'Adam" (a 15th century half-timber house) and the spectacular cathedral. Separation at Angers SNCF railway station.

Distance covered: approx. 35 km / Altitude gain: approx. 100 m

Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.

Itinerary end: France Bike Trips services end in Angers with your baggage pick-up close to the SNCF railway station at 6pm. On request we can book an early baggage pick-up. We can also book the following night's accommodation for you in Angers (see the supplementary services). Return to Tours by train at the end of your bike trip possible (trains acccept bicycles). Please contact us for more information.

Dates

This tour can be booked anytime from mid-March to mid-November.

Costs and services self-guided tour

Price per person:

The price includes:
  • 6 nights accommodation in double rooms (DR) with en-suite facilities (2* hotels in Amboise and Saumur, 3* hotel in Villandry, guest houses in Azay-sur-Cher, Beaumont en Véron and Saint-Mathurin-sur-Loire)
  • 6 breakfasts
  • 2 dinners (day 2 in Azay-sur-Cher, day 3 in Villandry)
  • Daily baggage transfers (only 1 baggage item per person for this tour, max 20kg)
  • A carefully designed itinerary
  • Our navigation app for smartphones, a detailed road book including maps (digital format) and GPS tracks
Reductions for children:

France Bike Trips offers reductions for children aged 12 or under (applicable only if children share same rooms as parents). Please contact us for more details.

What is not included:
  • Lunch meals
  • Dinners on days 1, 4, 5, 6
  • International flights
  • Your transfer to the meeting place (see paragraph below)
  • All services mentioned in extensions
  • Bike rental
  • Insurance, assistance
  • Any additional baggage
  • Drinks at the accommodation
  • Visits to châteaux, museums, monuments and sites
  • Additional travel related to changes in the programme due to bad weather
  • All personal expenses
  • Everything not mentioned under  “the price includes".

Supplementary services

Prices per person:

Single room accommodation (6 nights) 295 € / 

Extra night in Tours in hotel 2* or 3 *, single room, including breakfast 125 € / 

Extra night in Tours in hotel 2* or 3 *, double room, including breakfast 85 € / 

Extra night in Tours in hotel, twin room, including breakfast 85 € / 

Early baggage pick-up : 15 € per bag

On request, we can book the 3 dinners of your trip in restaurants carefully selected by our teams (budget generally between 30 and 35 € per person, starter, main course and dessert. Drinks not included). Meals are to be paid by you upon arrival at the restaurant. A fixed fee of 25€ per booking, to be added at the time of your registration.

Bike rental

Standard bikes and e-bikes are available for rent.

Standard bike (7 days) 185 € / 

E-Bike (7 days) 275 € / 

Rear pannier hire (pair) 40 € / 

Handlebar bag 20 € / 

Helmet 5 € / 

All bicycles are equipped with a rear rack, a bike lock, a puncture repair kit, and a pump (helmet and rear panniers upon request).

Please confirm your height and bicycle choice on your trip booking form.

Equipment for family trips:

Child bike (7 days) 70 € / 

Child trailer
min. 18 months, max 30 kg
105 € / 

Tag-along bike 105 € / 

Child seat
min. 12 months, max. 22 kg
35 € / 

Electric bikes offer pedaling assistance, greatly reducing the effort needed to cover a given distance compared to a classic "human-powered" bicycle. They offer an alternative solution in two cases: 

  • You do not feel able to complete a level 1 wheel (lowest level) circuit. With electric assistance, this trip becomes accessible. 
  • You would like to complete a circuit with a person who is fitter than you and you are worried that you will be unable to keep up, or that the other person will find your pace too slow.

Private groups / Custom tours

You are a group of friends, a family, a company or a cycling club and you would like to organise a private cycling tour on the dates of your choice. This option is available for guided and self-guided tours.

  • If you are interested in one of the tours presented on our website, we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in your group.
  • If you are interested in a custom version of one of our tours, with specific requirements (tour duration, accommodation type, vehicle assistance, airport transfers, bike rental, etc.), we can provide you with a detailed quote based on the number of persons in the group and the group's specific requirements.

For more information or to receive a quote, please contact us by phone at +33 458 140 435  or by email at info@france-bike-trips.com.

Travel insurance

It is important to be correctly insured when embarking on a cycling holiday. We recommend checking the details of your travel insurance (if you have one) and, if necessary, subscribing to our contract below. Please note that France Bike Trips is simply an intermediary between you and the insurance company.

You can choose between these travel insurance contracts while completing your booking form:

  • I subscribe to the "comprehensive multi-risk" insurance cover (4.5%), minimum premium of 15 €:
    This contract covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage, holiday interruption and cancellation. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "cancellation only" insurance cover (2.5%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers cancellation only. To see the full contract, click here.
  • I purchase the "repatriation & assistance" insurance cover (1.6%), minimum premium of 10 €:
    This policy covers assistance, repatriation, lost or stolen luggage and holiday interruption. To see the full contract, click here.

Recommendation:
If you choose to take out a travel insurance policy with another insurance company, please check that the search and rescue coverage is suitable: area covered, expenses included, risks covered (as an indication, a minimum cover of 15 000 € is recommended). Please note that credit card insurance rarely offers this type of coverage.

Booking procedure / Cancellation

How to book

In order to make a booking please fill in the online booking form on the "booking" page of your chosen tour. At the end of the booking process you will be transferred to our bank's secure payment page in order to pay a 30 % deposit.

Last minute booking

All self-guided bookings made within 21 days of tour departure will incur a surcharge of 15 € per person.

Expert advice
  • Unsure which tour to book?
  • Interested in a custom version of one of our tours?
  • Not sure if a particular tour is suitable for your riding style?

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm (French time) by phone - +33 458 140 435 or by mail - info@france-bike-trips.com.

Tour confirmation

In order to confirm our guided tours, we need to reach a minimum number of participants (usually 5 persons are necessary). Therefore booking a guided tour does not necessarily mean the tour is confirmed. In the unlikely event that we are unable to confirm your chosen tour, we will offer you the opportunity (no less than 21 days before departure) of switching to another (confirmed) tour, or receiving a full refund.

Self-guided or custom tours: We confirm bookings of self-guided tours and custom tours directly after booking.

In both cases, please await our final booking confirmation before making any travel arrangements.

Balance payment

Tour balance payment must be made no less than 30 days before tour departure. Your travel documents will be sent to you once we have received your balance payment. Road books and maps will be sent to you 3 weeks before departure.

Cancellation

In the event that you are obliged to cancel your tour France Bike Trips will reimburse the entire sum paid for the tour, minus the following cancellation charges:

  • More than 60 days before departure: 5 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 60 and 31 days before departure: 15 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 30 and 21 days: 30 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 20 and 14 days: 50 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Between 13 and 7 days: 70 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium
  • Less than 7 days before departure: 100 % of the tour price, excluding insurance premium

Full details of our sales conditions are available here

Route navigation

You will receive an email 2 weeks before departure, containing all the information necessary for your upcoming tour, including the following navigation tools:

Our dedicated smartphone app

Follow your route with comfort and ease! Thanks to the Velorizons navigation app, download the full trip itinerary to your smartphone, view route maps and profiles, access the list of booked accommodation, services and useful contacts, and use the integrated route guidance (visual and vocal) for navigation.

See the mobile app presentation video

To benefit fully from the app navigation system, we strongly recommend attaching your smartphone to the bicycle handlebar using a dedicated mount. An example can be viewed here.

Velorizons app compatibility
Operating systemAndroidAppleWindows PhoneBlackberry
CompatibilityVersion 8.0 minimumiOS 8.0 minimum. iPhone compatible, iPad compatible if GPS equippedNon compatibleNon compatible
A detailed Road Book

Your tour road book will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The road book contains:

  • Full colour maps with highlighted routes,
  • Step-by-step route description,
  • Route profiles
GPS tracks

Tour GPS tracks will be available to download in your My France Bike Trips customer area. The tracks are in .gpx format, compatible with all GPS devices/apps.

Getting there

By train: From Paris Montparnasse train station to Tours train station (about 1h by TGV train).
https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

By plane:

  • From Roissy - Paris Charles de Gaulle airport: head to Tours train station.
  • From Orly or Beauvais airport: join the Paris Montparnasse train station and head to Tours.

By car:
Route planner: en.mappy.com

Coming back:

You can return to Tours by taking the train from Anger (about 1h) : https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/

Car sharing

If you sign up for a guided tour, we offer you the opportunity to see if you can carpool with other participants to get to the point of departure. To do this, go to "Car sharing" in our website. By entering the complete reference and the date of departure of the tour (available on the registration confirmation that we have sent you), you have access to route details and emails of other participants who wish to carpool.

Group size and guiding

For guided trips we limit the size of our groups from 5 (min) to 12 (max) persons in order to ensure security and conviviality.

You will be guided by English-speaking French mountain bike guides.

No size limitation for self-guided groups.

Accommodation

We favour comfortable accommodation with warm hospitality. For more details, please see the "Costs and services" section.

For private groups and self-guided tours it is possible to choose alternative accommodation (upgrade) depending on availability.

Food

"L'art de la table"

We pay very careful attention to the quality and the variety of your meals.  Fresh and local produce will be served wherever possible.

Depending on the meals included in your chosen tour:

  • Continental breakfasts taken at the accommodation
  • Cold picnics for lunch (mixed salad, bread, cold meats, cheese and fruit). Each participant carries his picnic in his daypack
  • Hearty dinners (3 to 4 courses, with local dishes)

Please check the "Dates & Prices" section for meal plan details.

Baggage

During the day you carry only a daypack for additional clothing, water, food, camera, etc. The rest of your baggage is transferred each day to the following nights accommodation.

Health

We strongly recommend having a medical check-up before your holiday. 

Our / Your state of mind

- A "group" tour: If you join a guided tour, you will be part of a group for several days. This is a superb opportunity to meet new people and share some magical moments. However, a group tour requires that each person show friendliness, openness and mutual respect for their fellow travellers.

- An "adventure" tour: despite the most careful preparation, adventure tours can present unforeseen events. Accepting these risks will help you enjoy your trip to the full, in the knowledge that your guide, our local partners and the entire France Bike Trips team will offer you the most suitable solutions to any given situation.

Bike and plane / train

If you decide to bring your own bike, be aware that transporting a bike by plane or train is no longer an issue. However a few simple guidelines help to optimise the transport and avoid potential damages that could occur.
Your bike must be transported in a designated bike bag (standard size 120x90cm). This maximal size allows you to travel with your bike as "hand luggage" in any TGV and SNCF trains.
It is very important that you protect your bike in the bag. After having deflated the tires, removed the wheels (by removing the quick release mechanisms), pedals and rear derailleur (which is left hanging on the chain), we recommend you wrap your bike inside the bag in a sheet of dense foam (thickness of 3 to 5 cm). A piece of cardboard or rigid plastic positioned between the foam and the inside of the cover can be beneficial to provide more rigidity.

Once folded up the bike bag will take up very little space and will be transported by the assistance vehicle during your tour.

Bike bags are available directly from France Bike Trips at a cost of 70 euros, plus postage.

Your equipment

Equipment provided by France Bike Trips on guided tours:
  • A group first-aid kit
  • A bike repair kit and tools
Personal equipment to bring:
Baggage

All your luggage must fit in two bags: a daypack and a travel bag.

1/ Daypack

This is the bag you will keep with you each day whilst riding. This bag should not be too large (up to 30 litres).

It will contain: a picnic lunch, camera, waterproof and extra clothing, etc.

Each day, your guide will advise you on what to bring in your bag according to the route and the weather.

2/ Travel bag

This is the bag that will be transported from one accommodation to the next by vehicle. It should contain all the belongings you will not use during the day.

IMPORTANT: Your luggage transported from one accommodation to the next must fit in a single bag and must not exceed 20kg.

List of equipment to pack in your bag the day of departure:
For your head
  • A cap or other head protection against the sun
  • A hat or headband
  • A bike helmet.
For your upper body
  • Two base layers (made of synthetic or natural breathable fabrics)
  • A warm shirt or a sweatshirt
  • A fleece
  • A waterproof jacket
For your legs
  • Two good quality cycling shorts
  • Trousers
  • Casual short
  • A swimsuit.
For your feet
  • Comfortable sports shoes 
  • Sports socks
  • Sandals (not obligatory, but nice during breaks and in the evening...).
For your bike

If you rent a bike from France Bike Trips, this material is not necessary.

  • 2 spare tubes and a puncture repair kit
  • Lubricant for chain and derailleur
  • A pump
  • A spare derailleur hanger
Various
  • A pair of cycling gloves
  • A bike lock
  • 2 bike bottles 75 cl (or Camelbak)
  • A small individual pharmacy: sunscreen (face and lips); band aids + double skin; Immodium; pain killers, earplugs, other personal medication.

Self-guided formula

Self-guided tour "user guide"

Active autonomy: what you need to know for our self-guided tours

In order to achieve the planned tour programme, you must:

  • Guide yourself with the highlighted maps and road book;
  • Choose suitable start times adapted to the lengths of the daily stages as well as your own riding pace, and leave an adequate safety margin of time;
  • Obtain daily weather forecasts from your hosts, and take into account the weather conditions when planning journey times;
  • Arrive at the booked guest houses and hotels listed in the programme on the given dates; 
  • Bring the necessary personal equipment to carry out the tour. France Bike Trips equipment list constitutes the necessary minimum;
  • Carry insurance policies and emergency telephone numbers with you at all times;
  • Be familiar with basic first-aid steps;
  • In the event of any problems during your trip, contact France Bike Trips (contact information in your travel documents). Possession of a mobile phone that works in France is strongly recommended.

Self-guided tours are undertaken without a guide and at your own risk. France Bike Trips cannot be held liable for any route error, misconduct, personal imprudence, inadequate planning or inappropriate reactions in the event of incidents.

Any programme change of your own initiative is under your responsibility and at your expense. 

Having said this, with our advice and good preparation, you should be able to look forward to a wonderful, trouble free holiday. Enjoy your trip!

Average tour rating:

4.8/5 - 4 Reviews
Eliza K. | Participant rating:
"It was fantastic!!! Such a great way to spend time together with three generations."
Janice V. | Participant rating:
"An overall wonderful tour - not too hilly, absolutely beautiful bike trails, and the perfect way to experience the Loire Valley."
Sibyl M. | Participant rating:
""
Karen J. | Participant rating:
"It was a great tour, accomodation, information & meals. My only concern was we had thought it was <30 kms per day but some days were more so at times it was a bit much for the kids
Also the maps - would be good to have more detailed day by day maps not the word document with instructions as some times it wasn't that clear"
X

Subscribe

When you subscribe to the "Photos / Videos" section, you will receive an email whenever a new photo or video album is published.

I am interested in the following Photos / Videos albums types:

CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)

Search

Please type in your search terms.

You can prefix chosen words with the '+' sign to make them mandatory, or with the '-' sign to avoid results containing this word from appearing, e.g. west +nepal -canada

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.


Phone number: +33 458 140 435

Contact us

A dedicated team of travel specialists is available to offer you expert advice Monday to Friday from 9 to 12:30 AM and 13:30 to 6 PM (French time) on the phone, or by email.

Please type in your email address in order to access tour details and description

Your email will not be communicated to any third party or company outside France Bike Trips / Velorizons. You may receive occasional emails from France Bike Trips, with the possibility to unsubscribe at any time. CNIL (French National Commission for Data Protection and Liberties)